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I am considering replacing the hammers on my G-208 Young Chang. Could any of you give me a ball park estimate of what it should cost. My tech. wants to use Ronson sp? brand hammers. I am in California and his estimate is $1900.

My ballpark rate for hammer replacement is around $1200, but that does not include any of the regulating that should be included in this job. $1900 sounds high to me if it is JUST the hammer job. Retail cost of a set of Ronson Hammers is around $450-500 depending on options.

However, every hammer job is also going to require some regulating - how much depends on the individual piano. This could easily add several hundred dollars onto the price.

Lastly, I like to have the piano in my shop for a hammer job. This could easily add another $500 to the job - less if its an easy move and I can get the piano myself, more if the move has difficulties involved.

By the way, replacing the hammers on a Young Chang is one of the best things you can do for the tone of those pianos. In many cases their dense, hard-pressed hammers are their biggest flaw.

Bottom line: The price may be very reasonable if it is including regulating or moving expenses. If it is JUST for hammers, nothing else, it sounds high.

OOps! When I saw $1900 I was assuming we were talking about upright hammers! After re-reading your post, I realized that we are talking about grand hammers. That's a totally different scenario.

My ballpark for a grand hammer job is closer to $3500. There is a lot more work for a quality grand job and the parts are more expensive. The weight of the hammers is a huge consideration and careful attention must be paid to this issue for the piano to have a good touch.

Thanks Ryan. I agree that replacing the hammers is the best thing I can do. When I had the action regulated and the hammers were resurfaced it really brightened the tone. It is really intolerable (although I have put up with it a couple of years now). My tech said the same thing as you about the hammers...they are one of the worst things about it. He will have to spend a day in the shop with them and another full day here at the house. So, sounds like I'm getting a pretty good deal.